Contradiction with Exodus 17:6
In Exodus, God instructs Moses to strike the rock to bring forth water, whereas in Numbers 20:8, God tells Moses to speak to the rock.
Exodus 17:6: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Contradiction with Numbers 20:11
In Numbers 20:11, Moses strikes the rock twice with his rod instead of speaking to it as commanded in Numbers 20:8.
Numbers 20:11: And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 34:4-5
God denies Moses entry into the Promised Land due to his disobedience at Meribah, showing a consequence not directly expressed in Numbers 20:8.
Deuteronomy 34:4-5: And the LORD said unto him, This [is] the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see [it] with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
Paradox #1
Numbers 20:8 has been a subject of discussion because God instructs Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water, but instead, Moses strikes the rock with his staff. This action leads to a theological question about obedience and faith. Some view it as highlighting a conflict between following God's exact instructions versus human actions. The contradiction appears in Moses's response versus what God commanded, raising questions about the consequences of disobedience or misunderstanding divine commands.
Paradox #2
Numbers 20:8 may seem contradictory when compared to another account in a similar situation. In Numbers 20:8, God instructs Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. However, earlier in Exodus 17:6, God instructed Moses to strike the rock to produce water. The perceived inconsistency arises from the different instructions given in seemingly similar situations, which might lead some to question why God would change the method.
Paradox #3
One contradiction involves the similar story in Exodus 17:6, where Moses is instructed to strike the rock to bring forth water, whereas in Numbers 20:8, he is told to speak to the rock. This difference in instructions can lead to questions about why God gave different commands in seemingly similar situations and why there was a consequence for Moses when he chose to strike the rock in Numbers.
Paradox #4
In Numbers 20:8, Moses is instructed to speak to a rock to bring forth water. However, he strikes the rock instead. The contradiction arises from God's punishment of Moses for not following the exact instructions, even though water was still provided for the people. The tension here is between the importance of obedience to specific instructions and the outcome of achieving the intended result. Moses' punishment might seem harsh when the outcome—to provide water—was still achieved.